Alsup retires from Lebanon Senior Citizens Center

Former Lebanon Mayor Don Fox, far right, and current Mayor Phillip Craighead, far left, present Wallace and Sue Alsup with an oak tree dedicating the 22 years of service they gave to the Lebanon Senior Citizens Center. Alsup retired on Dec. 31 and was honored with a retirement ceremony last Friday.

ZACK OWENSBY / The Wilson Post

By ZACK OWENSBYThe Wilson Post

More than 200 senior and non-senior citizens of Lebanon’s Senior Citizen Center came out to wish Director Wallace Alsup farewell and to thank him for 22 years of service to Lebanon’s aged at a retirement ceremony this past Friday.

Alsup and his wife Sue began working with the center in November 1987. When he began, Alsup said the center only had 15 members.

No w the center is one of the strongest in the state, according to several sources, including Wilson County Mayor Robert Dedman.

“We’ve been very, very lucky to have (Alsup) and Sue working with this place for years and years,” Dedman said. “We’ve one of the best senior groups I know of and one of the best in the state. Just look at who all we’ve got here.”

The ceremony began with former Lebanon Mayor Don Fox presiding over the dedication of an oak tree outside the senior center to the “director(s).”

Fox said although Mr. Alsup held the official title of director, they did not want to forget about the commitment of Sue.

The monument reads: Dedicated in honor of Wallace and Sue Alsup for tireless and unselfish support of the Lebanon Senior Citizens Center for 22 years as director(s), November 15, 1987 – December 31, 2009.

“While I was mayor, one of the most enjoyable and one of my greatest accomplishments, with Wallace and the board, was to see this center grow up,” Fox said. “It is the envy of senior centers all over the area.

“People all over the area see the center, the bricks and the mortar, the activities” Fox added. “But what they don’t feel what you have inside of here. And that would be impossible to imagine.”

State Sen. Mae Beavers and 5th District U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper both wrote proclamations of thanks for the dedication and sacrifice Alsup and his family made for their years of service.

Wilson County Trustee Jim Major and Wilson County United Way President John McMillin also gave thanks to Alsup for his dedication.

McMillin said every year when doling out funds for local programs, “with the Lebanon Senior Citizens Center program, it’s a given. It’s a quality program, every year, and that all comes back to you.

“I’ve used you as a role model on more than one occasion,” McMillin added.

After all the praise, Alsup took the microphone and made one last comment.

“I’m retiring, but I’ll still be here,” Alsup said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Staff Writer Zack Owensby may be contacted at zowensby@wilsonpost.com.